... 't want you up there ad-libbing a fancy introduction, understand? All you say is "˜Ladies and gentlemen, here he is--the poet of the common man--Merle Haggard!' You got that? That's all you say! The poet of the common man--Merle Haggard!" The promoter assured the manager that he understood exactly what he was supposed to do. But when it came time to bring Merle on stage the promoter got excited and forgot about the line, "the poet of the common man." Instead, he exclaimed: "Ladies and gentlemen! Here he is ...
... so help him God. His crime was helping a fugitive. A rag-tag Robin Hood singing a sad song of flight, "Down every road there’s always one more city, I’m on the run, the highway is my home," knowing full well the despair evoked in Merle Haggard’s lament. David running in fear from Saul. One morning, entering into the sleepy village of Nob, nestled on Mount Scopus, a few miles from Jerusalem. Making up a story. Telling a lie. Informing Ahimelech, the high priest, that he is on a secret mission for Saul ...
... they believed and quick tempers when someone challenged them, Pentz noted that they were easy to provoke into a fight, a part of our heritage we haven't lost. But, said Pentz, "the next time you tune into a country music station, that's Merle Haggard channeling your Presbyterian heritage." So the greatest legacy these old Scots left to us was their enthusiastic, awestruck worship of God, the sense that something is happening here that makes a difference to us and to our loved ones, especially those who have ...
... , we don’t know which, he vowed to make music his life’s ambition. Upon his release from prison, he pursued his dream and became one of the greatest country-western singers of all time, with 38 number one country hits. That inmate’s name was Merle Haggard. By hearing the story of another person who found redemption we too can be reconciled to the good life. This was Paul’s hope in sharing his story with the Corinthian Christians. Paul listed nine sufferings that he endured for the sake of the gospel ...
